This year's NHRA Breakfast panelists include a true cross-section of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series motorsports, with three of the four professional classes represented.

NHRA's "Nitro Generation"—Bob Tasca and Bob Tasca III; LE, GT and Gary Tonglet; Jeg Coughlin Sr. and Jeg Coughlin Jr.; John and Courtney Force—are the featured panelists for the annual NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show. The annual NHRA event, which includes a continental breakfast, is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees. Get your tickets now.

Emceed by the voice of NHRA, Bob Frey, the breakfast's panelists represent a true cross-section of the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series with three of the four professional classes represented:

• The Tasca Family has been a part of drag racing since the beginning, when family patriarch Bob Tasca Sr. coined the phrase “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That passion and desire to win has been passed to his son Bob Tasca II and on to his grandson Bob Tasca III who is currently competing in the Funny Car ranks in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang.
• A truly family affair, the Tonglet family has all shared a passion for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racing. Tuned by father Gary Tonglet and his brother GT Tonglet, LE Tonglet won the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle world championship along with that year’s Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the season’s top rookie performer. GT, who won the rookie of the year award in 2001, has been involved in the sport since he was 14 years old when he became crew chief on his father’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team.
• When you think of drag racing, you can’t help but think of JEGS Mail Order, founded by Jeg Coughlin Sr., an accomplished top fuel racer in the late ’60s and ’70s. It would be an understatement to say he passed down the passion of NHRA drag racing. Jeg Jr. is the youngest of four Coughlin drag racing brothers who works during the week in the family business and races on the weekends.
• John Force never had any sons, but that didn’t stop the 15-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champion from passing along his love of the sport to his daughters, Ashley, Brittany and the newest rising star, Courtney Force.

About NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, California, the NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 22 national events, featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

	This year's NHRA Breakfast panelists include a true cross-section of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series motorsports, with three of the four professional classes represented.

NHRA's "Nitro Generation"—Bob Tasca and Bob Tasca III; LE, GT and Gary Tonglet; Jeg Coughlin Sr. and Jeg Coughlin Jr.; John and Courtney Force—are the featured panelists for the annual NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show. The annual NHRA event, which includes a continental breakfast, is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees. Get your tickets now.

Emceed by the voice of NHRA, Bob Frey, the breakfast's panelists represent a true cross-section of the sport of NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series with three of the four professional classes represented:

• The Tasca Family has been a part of drag racing since the beginning, when family patriarch Bob Tasca Sr. coined the phrase “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That passion and desire to win has been passed to his son Bob Tasca II and on to his grandson Bob Tasca III who is currently competing in the Funny Car ranks in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang.
• A truly family affair, the Tonglet family has all shared a passion for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racing. Tuned by father Gary Tonglet and his brother GT Tonglet, LE Tonglet won the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle world championship along with that year’s Auto Club Road to the Future Award as the season’s top rookie performer. GT, who won the rookie of the year award in 2001, has been involved in the sport since he was 14 years old when he became crew chief on his father’s NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team.
• When you think of drag racing, you can’t help but think of JEGS Mail Order, founded by Jeg Coughlin Sr., an accomplished top fuel racer in the late ’60s and ’70s. It would be an understatement to say he passed down the passion of NHRA drag racing. Jeg Jr. is the youngest of four Coughlin drag racing brothers who works during the week in the family business and races on the weekends.
• John Force never had any sons, but that didn’t stop the 15-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series world champion from passing along his love of the sport to his daughters, Ashley, Brittany and the newest rising star, Courtney Force.

About NHRA
Headquartered in Glendora, California, the NHRA is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2011. As the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States, NHRA presents 22 national events, featuring the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. The NHRA also offers the Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 8 to 17. In addition, NHRA owns and operates five racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Atlanta Dragway in Georgia; National Trail Raceway in Ohio; Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis; and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For more information, log on to NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

	Dave McClelland will once again emcee the HRIA Industry Awards Reception.

As the 2011 SEMA Show nears, the councils and committees are making the final touches on their Industry Awards Receptions. For most of the groups, these events serve as the year's premier networking opportunity and provide the venue to honor those individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on their respective industry segment.

For attendees, it is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with old friends, discuss business opportunities and expand their network of industry contacts. From the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)-themed NovemberFest Reception, to the Street Performance Council (SPC) and Young Executives Network’s (YEN) joint gathering and the Truck and Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA) Fall Nationals Pinewood Drags, there is something for everyone. The sense of industry comradery and goodwill generated through these various receptions creates an unparalleled membership benefit that must be experienced by all.

So whether a longtime or new council member or just interested in getting more involved, be sure to attend one or more of these industry receptions.

SEMA's councils and committees cordially invite SEMA Showgoers to attend the events that honor the industry.

RSVP today by following the links below:

• ARMO Industry Awards Reception
• PRO NovemberFest Reception
• SPC/YEN Industry Awards Reception
• WTC Industry Awards Reception
• HRIA Industry Awards Reception
• TORA Industry Awards Reception

For more information, contact Gina Ledesma at GinaL@sema.org.

	Dave McClelland will once again emcee the HRIA Industry Awards Reception.

As the 2011 SEMA Show nears, the councils and committees are making the final touches on their Industry Awards Receptions. For most of the groups, these events serve as the year's premier networking opportunity and provide the venue to honor those individuals and companies who have made a significant impact on their respective industry segment.

For attendees, it is a fantastic opportunity to catch up with old friends, discuss business opportunities and expand their network of industry contacts. From the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)-themed NovemberFest Reception, to the Street Performance Council (SPC) and Young Executives Network’s (YEN) joint gathering and the Truck and Off-Road Alliance’s (TORA) Fall Nationals Pinewood Drags, there is something for everyone. The sense of industry comradery and goodwill generated through these various receptions creates an unparalleled membership benefit that must be experienced by all.

So whether a longtime or new council member or just interested in getting more involved, be sure to attend one or more of these industry receptions.

SEMA's councils and committees cordially invite SEMA Showgoers to attend the events that honor the industry.

RSVP today by following the links below:

• ARMO Industry Awards Reception
• PRO NovemberFest Reception
• SPC/YEN Industry Awards Reception
• WTC Industry Awards Reception
• HRIA Industry Awards Reception
• TORA Industry Awards Reception

For more information, contact Gina Ledesma at GinaL@sema.org.

The photo gallery on www.enjoythedrive.com features more than 2,000 photos of vehicles on display at the 2010 SEMA Show. A new group of pictures included each week in SEMA eNews. This week's collection of photos features vehicles from Bentley.

The photo database is searchable by vehicle make, vehicle model, exhibitor name and more.

	Dealer Day, to be held during the 2011 SEMA Show, will examine the specifics of how to successfully integrate accessories into your dealership.

For those in the industry, it is no secret that accessories help sell cars, increase the bottom line and create a distinctive product for auto dealers. And while many new- and used-vehicle dealers understand the power of accessorization, others have questions about how to incorporate accessory sales effectively. SEMA Show Dealer Day (view a detailed agenda here), to be held November 2, from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center in room N109, will take a deep dive into the specifics of how to successfully integrate accessories into your dealership.

Along with an enthusiasts consumer panel hosted by AutoPacific, a Vehicle Walk & Talk and a focused session on “How to Partner with the Right Accessories Installer,” Dealer Day will equip attendees with the “7 Simple Steps to Running a Successful Accessory Business.”

The 7 Simple Steps panel will delve into the key elements and obstacles of running an accessory business. The discussion will start by asking Dealers to conduct an honest assessment of the capabilities, tools and resources they can allocate toward an accessory program. From there, the panel will jump into topics, such as creating effective partnerships, systems, education, marketing, cross-departmental cooperation and inventory control.

The diverse and experienced panel will be moderated by SEMA’s Zane Clark who, prior to joining SEMA, spent 13 years running several very successful accessory programs for dealers as a third-party service provider and an in-house dealer direct accessories manager. Joining the panel will be:

• David Boutwell, finance and insurance process manger with CODA Automotive Inc., a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems. Boutwell has years of experience in the automotive industry, both as a dealer and aftermarket parts supplier. His diverse background provides him with a unique and wide-ranging perspective from finance, sales strategy and product development, to real-world accessory integration.
• Chris Ferren, fleet/Internet manager with Bewley Allen Cadillac in Alhambra, California. Ferren began his career in the automotive aftermarket 15 years ago managing numerous vendor-provided and in-house aftermarket accessory departments, from small to multi-million-dollar stores in the Western United States. He has extensive experience in many aspects of dealership operations, new- and used-vehicle sales, service and body shop, giving him the practical knowledge to use aftermarket accessories to create dealer profit in today's marketplace.
• Jon Titman, vice president of sales for Automotive Essentials, a Rockville, Maryland-based restyler and expeditor. Titman has nearly 30 years of experience in the manufacturing, distribution, sales and installation of accessories to car dealers nationwide. He is a long-term member of the Professional Restylers Organization (PR)) council at SEMA, having served several terms on the PRO Select Committee. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth and progress of the restyling industry, Titman was named the 2004 recipient of the PRO/Jim Borre Lifetime Achievement Award. Upon his retirement from the PRO Select Committee in 2006, he received a distinguished service award.

Register today for the 2011 SEMA Show Dealer Day and take advantage of the early-bird rates.

“At our dealership, restyling has long been an integral part of our operation. We generate a loyal customer base by creating unique vehicles, from custom interiors to custom exteriors on both new and used vehicles, which consistently produce higher grosses.”

–Larry Appleby, Lund Cadillac, Phoenix, Arizona

	Dealer Day, to be held during the 2011 SEMA Show, will examine the specifics of how to successfully integrate accessories into your dealership.

For those in the industry, it is no secret that accessories help sell cars, increase the bottom line and create a distinctive product for auto dealers. And while many new- and used-vehicle dealers understand the power of accessorization, others have questions about how to incorporate accessory sales effectively. SEMA Show Dealer Day (view a detailed agenda here), to be held November 2, from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center in room N109, will take a deep dive into the specifics of how to successfully integrate accessories into your dealership.

Along with an enthusiasts consumer panel hosted by AutoPacific, a Vehicle Walk & Talk and a focused session on “How to Partner with the Right Accessories Installer,” Dealer Day will equip attendees with the “7 Simple Steps to Running a Successful Accessory Business.”

The 7 Simple Steps panel will delve into the key elements and obstacles of running an accessory business. The discussion will start by asking Dealers to conduct an honest assessment of the capabilities, tools and resources they can allocate toward an accessory program. From there, the panel will jump into topics, such as creating effective partnerships, systems, education, marketing, cross-departmental cooperation and inventory control.

The diverse and experienced panel will be moderated by SEMA’s Zane Clark who, prior to joining SEMA, spent 13 years running several very successful accessory programs for dealers as a third-party service provider and an in-house dealer direct accessories manager. Joining the panel will be:

• David Boutwell, finance and insurance process manger with CODA Automotive Inc., a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems. Boutwell has years of experience in the automotive industry, both as a dealer and aftermarket parts supplier. His diverse background provides him with a unique and wide-ranging perspective from finance, sales strategy and product development, to real-world accessory integration.
• Chris Ferren, fleet/Internet manager with Bewley Allen Cadillac in Alhambra, California. Ferren began his career in the automotive aftermarket 15 years ago managing numerous vendor-provided and in-house aftermarket accessory departments, from small to multi-million-dollar stores in the Western United States. He has extensive experience in many aspects of dealership operations, new- and used-vehicle sales, service and body shop, giving him the practical knowledge to use aftermarket accessories to create dealer profit in today's marketplace.
• Jon Titman, vice president of sales for Automotive Essentials, a Rockville, Maryland-based restyler and expeditor. Titman has nearly 30 years of experience in the manufacturing, distribution, sales and installation of accessories to car dealers nationwide. He is a long-term member of the Professional Restylers Organization (PR)) council at SEMA, having served several terms on the PRO Select Committee. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the growth and progress of the restyling industry, Titman was named the 2004 recipient of the PRO/Jim Borre Lifetime Achievement Award. Upon his retirement from the PRO Select Committee in 2006, he received a distinguished service award.

Register today for the 2011 SEMA Show Dealer Day and take advantage of the early-bird rates.

“At our dealership, restyling has long been an integral part of our operation. We generate a loyal customer base by creating unique vehicles, from custom interiors to custom exteriors on both new and used vehicles, which consistently produce higher grosses.”

–Larry Appleby, Lund Cadillac, Phoenix, Arizona

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

Despite being approved by bipartisan and overwhelming majorities in the California Assembly and Senate, legislation that would have given small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would have created a requirement for one CARB member to be an owner within the past five years of a small business. CARB is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency that is charged with the task of attaining and maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants and issuing air pollution rules and regulations. The SEMA-supported measure recognized that the regulations issued by the Board directly affect small businesses and would have ensured that the rights of small-business owners were represented. 

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Despite being approved by bipartisan and overwhelming majorities in the California Assembly and Senate, legislation that would have given small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would have created a requirement for one CARB member to be an owner within the past five years of a small business. CARB is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency that is charged with the task of attaining and maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants and issuing air pollution rules and regulations. The SEMA-supported measure recognized that the regulations issued by the Board directly affect small businesses and would have ensured that the rights of small-business owners were represented. 

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.